Girlfriends put down that lip gloss and listen up! Going on a first trip with girlfriends is a great way to test your compatibility and your ability to compromise. Trust me, traveling in close circles can make or break relationships. Rule number one, you want to know you can stand each other for more than three consecutive cocktail hours --per week-- for at least two months, and, it’s of utmost importance you all think with the same side of your brain at the same time.

Once you’ve got the girls together, the best girlfriend getaways are all about experiences shared, dining, spa, entertainment, sightseeing, adventure, relaxing, and shopping, shopping, shopping.

My girlfriends and I are coming up on our 10th annual travel anniversary.  We have a well organized voting system. Such as, voting on where we're going, where we're going to stay, and where we're going to eat. One person is in charge of e-mailing, counting the votes, and making the arrangements.  Once in our destination, one person puts all our lunches and dinners on one credit card. In the end everything is divided amongst the traveling girlfriends. It saves a lot of frustration for the server--and tipsy girlfriends--to figure the check.

Whoever coined the phrase, “Every journey begins with a single step,” got it wrong. Because, before that step comes the trials and tribulations of planning. So before you spend hours of your precious packing time on the Internet, or worse, get to your destination only to find out the five star hotel you’ve booked is actually a converted gas station, call a AAA Travel Specialist to handle all the research and details for you before putting your friendship through the ultimate test.

- Rita Caton Greenbaum